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It is a competition with a difference. A competition to find India’s best freestyle footballer. McDowell’s Celebration which has been known for its patronage of Indian football has upped-the-ante this time by bringing to India, one of the most exciting and popular forms of extreme football in the world today. Under the McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy platform, a nationwide hunt was launched today to find one Indian who can challenge the best in the world when it comes to freestyle football.
Speaking at the event, Ashok Capoor, Deputy President, United Spirits Limited, said, “McDowell’s Celebration is the proud pioneer of dynamic football formats in India. Freestyle football is catching up as a rage amongst football aficionados across the world. Now with the launch of a nationwide hunt for India’s best freestyle footballer, McDowell’s has taken football fever to another level. McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy is a natural outcome of this pursuit. Never before has the country witnessed such a massive display of international football talent apart from the exciting hunt for Indian amateur freestylers.”
To herald the event, McDowell’s literally rolled the leather out of Bangalore, by inviting six of the world’s best Freestylers to kick off the competition and mesmerize audience with their dazzling “dribblery”. The names of Peter Kovacs - from Puskas’ Hungary , Nam The Man – from Robby Keane’s Ireland, Palle – the freestyle champion from Ljungberg’s Sweden, Daniel Rooseboom – the Dutch numero uno from Van Nistelroy’s home town, Nori-top freestyler from Nakamura’s Japan and Jesus Gomez Moreno-from Rauls’ Spain, are among the best in freestyle football that the world has produced and this time they kicked off their India tour with a touchdown at UB city in Bangalore. What followed in terms of sheer skill was mind-blowing and a true visual treat. From “Crossovers”, to “Around the World” to “Hop the World”, the freestylers unleashed a volley of tricks which left everyone wanting for more.
After having successfully partnered the “Green Maroon” brigade of Mohun Bagan for a decade, McDowell’s has been successful in bringing this new soccer format to the Indian shores, be it through five-a side Futsal or Freestyle soccer.
McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy-hunt for India’s best freestyle footballer
The nationwide competition is open to anyone who has the drive and the enthusiasm to display his freestyle football skills and get fame and recognition. The winner will also get a chance to interact with the celebrity freestylers and learn more tricks from them.
The international freestylers will engage and interact with the local freestylers across 21 cities in India, with the finale to be held in the mecca of Indian football, Kolkata on December 18, 2009. The final winner will receive a free ticket to one of the most sought after league matches in London and other attractive prizes.
McDowell’s Celebration will soon launch India’s first Freestyle Training Video with the visiting freestyle champions. The video will be available at major sports and music outlets.
What is Freestyle Football?
Also known as street style, Freestyle Football is extremely popular in North America, Europe and parts of Asia. A very popular sport amongst the youth, it is perceived to be cool, hip and fun.
The celebrity freestylers will dribble, juggle and display tricks which will leave you spellbound. So look out for the McDowell’s Freestyle Friendzy arriving in your city soon.
About McDowell’s Celebration rum
McDowell's No.1 Celebration Rum is the fastest growing top rum brand in the world. Celebration was launched in 1991 with a modest beginning of a hundred thousand cases. Today McDowell’s Celebration sells in excess of 10 million cases with a reach across 12 countries that, makes Celebration the 2nd largest selling dark rum in the world. Part of the McDowell’s franchise with the highest FMCG retail value of Rs 8300 crores*, Celebration Rum is the largest selling rum in India, with a market share of 52% and growing. The proud recipient of several prestigious awards, Celebration Rum owes it success largely to the high quality standards that McDowell's No.1 Celebration Rum provides its consumers and this has been recognized at the highest International level.
*PASH Beverage Report, Impact International, Nov 2008
About United Spirits Limited (USL)
United Spirits Limited (unitedspirits.in) is the INR 5700 crore spirits arm of the UB Group. USL was earlier McDowell and Company Limited and before that McDowell Spirits Limited. USL is headquartered in Bangalore with a global footprint and has 7500 employees across various locations. USL has a portfolio of more than 140 brands, of which 19 are millionaire brands and has manufacturing and bottling units in 74 locations across the country.
USL represents the merged entities of erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited, Phipson Distillery Limited, United Spirits Limited, Herbertsons Limited, Triumph Distillers and Vintners Private Limited, Baramati Grape Industries Limited, United Distillers India Limited, McDowell International Brands Limited and Shaw Wallace Distilleries Limited. The erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited was first established as a proprietary business in 1826.
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